US Health Care: What Canadians Aren’t Told

For Canadians thinking about the move

Most Canadians picture US health care as crushing bills and people going without. For many working Canadians who move, the reality is very different. Here’s what the numbers actually show, the good and the bad.

Does this sound like you?

• Someone sends you a story about a $50,000 US hospital bill every time you mention moving.
• You’ve been waiting months for a specialist or a scan in Canada.
• You’ve wondered whether you’d really be worse off down south, or just told you would be.
• Health care is the one thing holding you back from saying yes to a US move.

The short answer

• Faster access: far fewer Americans wait months to see a specialist.
• More equipment: the US has more than 3 times as many CT, MRI and PET scanners per person.
• Most workers are covered by their employer, who pays most of the premium.
• Canadian care isn’t free: a typical Canadian family pays over $21,000 a year for it through taxes.
• But US plans have deductibles and co-pays, and coverage depends on your job or business. You need to plan for it.

Wait times: the biggest difference

28.6 weeks

Median wait in Canada from a family doctor’s referral to treatment in 2025, the second-longest on record.

5x

Canadians were 5 times as likely as Americans to wait 2 months or more for a specialist appointment.

Waited 2 months or more for a specialist

Canada30% United States6% Adults who saw or needed a specialist in the past two years. Source: Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey (2016).

Equipment and technology

CT, MRI and PET scanners per million people

United States86 OECD average51 Canada26 Source: OECD, Health at a Glance 2025 country notes for the United States and Canada.

More scanners generally means shorter waits for tests that lead to a diagnosis.

Cost: what families actually pay

$21,115 CAD a year

Estimated amount a typical Canadian family of four with an average income pays for public health care through taxes in 2026. You pay it whether you use the system or not.

$7,471 USD a year

Average amount US workers pay toward employer family coverage in 2026. Employers pay the rest of the $28,303 average premium.

These figures aren’t a perfect like-for-like comparison. Americans also pay taxes that fund public programs, and US workers face deductibles and co-pays on top of their share of premiums. But they show that “free” Canadian health care has a real price, and that most working Americans don’t pay full premiums themselves.

How most Americans are covered

92.1%

of people in the US had health coverage for some or all of 2025.

53.5%

were covered through an employer, the most common type of coverage.

What about quality?

The honest answer: it’s mixed, and both countries do some things better. A major study of cancer survival in both countries found older Americans had higher 5-year survival for breast, prostate and colon cancer, while some younger, lower-income Canadians did better for other cancers. Access and insurance make a big difference to outcomes in the US.

What to plan for before you move

• Ask about the health plan when you get a US job offer. It’s part of your pay.
• Check the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. In 2026, most plans cap your yearly costs at $10,600 for one person or $21,200 for a family.
• Running your own business, such as on an E-2? You’ll need to arrange coverage yourself, through a small-business plan or the Marketplace. Budget for it.
• Avoid gaps. Make sure coverage starts the day you arrive. Provincial coverage usually ends when you leave Canada.

Common questions

Is health care better in the US or Canada?

It depends on what you measure. The US has much shorter waits for specialists and far more diagnostic equipment. Canada covers everyone without premiums. Quality of care is mixed, with each country doing better on some measures.

How much does health insurance cost in the US for a family?

In 2026, the average employer family plan costs $28,303 a year, but workers pay an average of $7,471 of that. The employer pays the rest. Deductibles and co-pays are extra.

Is Canadian health care really free?

No. It's paid for through taxes. The Fraser Institute estimates a typical Canadian family of four pays about $21,115 a year for public health care in 2026.

How long do Canadians wait for treatment?

The Fraser Institute found a median wait of 28.6 weeks from a family doctor's referral to treatment in 2025.

Do I lose my provincial health coverage if I move to the US?

Usually, yes, once you stop living in your province. Rules vary by province, so arrange US coverage to start the day you arrive.

What if I own a business in the US on an E-2 visa?

You'll need to arrange your own health coverage, either through a small-business group plan or an individual plan. Include it in your business budget.

Thinking about the move?

See which US visas and green cards may fit you in about 3 minutes. Free and confidential.

Check my optionsOr book a consultation

Prefer to talk now? Call 866-934-7447

Sources: Fraser Institute, Waiting Your Turn 2025 and The Price of Public Health Care Insurance, 2026. KFF, Employer Health Benefits Survey 2026. Commonwealth Fund, 2016 International Health Policy Survey. OECD, Health at a Glance 2025. US Census Bureau, Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025. HealthCare.gov, 2026 out-of-pocket limits. Weir et al., Population-Based Cancer Survival in Canada and the United States (CONCORD-2), 2022.

VisaPlace Immigration does not provide legal, medical or financial advice. This page is for information purposes only. Figures are the latest available at the time of writing and may change. For legal advice, consult a licensed immigration lawyer.